APA Support Structure

Our goal is to prepare our students not only for a successful semester of classes but daily life as well. This tight-knit support system is there when you need it with a variety of initiatives exclusive to APA students.

“The APA team and office is small, but mighty! Claire, Sophie, and Blandine work extremely hard to coordinate the entire program, and are always looking for new ways to improve it. I turned to les reines of APA for all kinds of things - bank issues, course selection, class projects, restaurant suggestions, questions about French culture, etc. It was also great to connect with them on a personal level, especially during the excursions. I’m glad I got to know them.”

Jelyn, Bryn Mawr College, Fall 2012

Customized Academic & Language Support

Take advantage of our exceptional academic and language support, which includes:

Prior to arrival, intermediate students will take a language evaluation so that we can tailor our language acquisition course to fit the overall needs of the group. After the three-week, 75-hour class, students will be evaluated again so that APA can properly advise on university course registration. Each week for the remaining semester, students will meet individually with the language professor for 30 minutes and separately with the teaching assistant for 60 minutes to focus on oral expression and other areas for improvement. A final language evaluation will be held at the conclusion of the semester.

Advanced Students

During orientation, students will take a language evaluation to identify any weaknesses. Throughout the semester, students will individually meet with their language professor each week for 30 minutes and one-one-one with their teaching assistant for 1 hour. These sessions will focus on oral expression and assist with course-specific readings.

What do students work on during this time?

translating Old French text from a Medieval History class

→ methodology workshops to help you meet French academic standards

→ tutoring sessions to assist you with any courses in which you’re having trouble

→ proofreading sessions, which give you a chance to run your papers by a French language professor and get valuable feedback before handing them in

Complementary courses meet for 90 minutes, every two weeks. What’s exceptional about these classes is that they’re conducted by the same professors as your university classes, which is a rare luxury in the French education system. This provides you with a valuable way to complete your knowledge, bridge the gap between the French and American educational systems, and follow up on important details directly with your professor, in a context and setting that you’re comfortable in.

Because we’re asking the professors to make special arrangements, we can only open a complementary class when we have a minimum of three students from the same class.

Dedicated Local Assistance

To ensure your immersion into French society goes smoothly, our staff is always on hand to assist you and make sure you have all the information you need concerning health issues, vacation planning, leisure activities, and more.

The director or assistant director meets with you individually at the beginning of the semester and at mid-term to see if you’re fully satisfied with your academic and homestay situations. Additionally, our staff is always in close contact with your school’s faculty and French hosts. And, most importantly, we’re always available for you whenever you want to talk.

“The staff at APA is amazing. Those ladies GET IT DONE- and they do it with smiles on their faces. From anything to haircuts to illness, they've got your back. And even when I returned to France years later, I was warmly welcomed into the APA office.”